Many themes were explored throughout the day by the Year 7 students at St Thomas Aquinas. They examined their faith in the morning by discussing their gifts and talents. An energetic warm up enabled them to sing and sign a hymn about passing on the faith. They sang enthusiastically!

After session 1, our guest speaker, an old boy of the school, Dan Vince, enlightened the children with his knowledge of Priest, Prophet and King. He challenged the students to think about what a Priest actually does and how they can live their lives as a priest, prophet and king.

After a short break, the Year 7 students returned to their classrooms with their Form Tutors. We have incredibly talented teachers who enabled the students to design posters connected with ‘The Body of Christ’. The hymns linked with the readings of the day, which explored Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Mr Smith explained that we are all one large family of God and God knows each one of us intimately.

Mrs O’Brien taught a group of students an amazing liturgical dance in less than an hour. They performed it while the rest of Year 7 sang ‘We are one body, one body in Christ’. Mrs Haddon coached the readers and rehearsed them to a high standard. The performances formed part of the Prayer Service at the end of the day. The children had time to reflect on their talents and all the other themes they looked at during the day. To honour Mary in the month of October we ended with the hymn ‘Immaculate Mary.’

Thank you to Mrs Bayliss, Mrs McGinley, Mr Trafford, Mrs Harrison, Mrs Haddon, Mrs O’Brien, Mrs Mortimer and Mr Ridgeway who helped Mr Smith and myself deliver the Year 7 retreat. They were amazing! Thanks also to our 6th Form photographer, Laurencia Arthur (12 BO) for spending her day travelling around the school taking photos and Mr Nolan for his help and support.